Tracy Shedd

Tracy Shedd, a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist, has earned recognition as the queen of slowcore through her fragile, wistful, confessional, and stubbornly dreamy songs that blend folk elements with minimal alternative pop. Raised in Jacksonville, Florida, as the daughter of a country singer, she was immersed in music from childhood, taking up classical piano, performing on trumpet with her high-school marching band, and nurturing an early passion for jazz prior to exploring guitar along with punk rock and the wider alternative indie scene. Her debut album, Blue, appeared in 2001 and was followed by Red in 2003 and Louder Than You Can Hear in 2004; each release drew critical acclaim for her eccentric personal style and hushed vocals, which she often deliberately submerged halfway into the mix. On 2008’s Cigarettes & Smoke Machines she moved her vocals forward, lending greater brightness and clarity to the melodies while preserving her core approach, a direction she continued with 2013’s Arizona.